Applicator head for fountain brushes



Sept. 11, 1951 A. B. DAVIES APPLICATOR HEAD FOR FOUNTAIN BRUSHES Filed April 10, 1947 INVENTOR MAJDM fi lm/axw ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 11, 1951 I'CTE e'APPLI-CATOR "FOUNTAIN BRUSHES Arthur 'B; Davies, Pittsburgh, Pa. .:.-Application .April 10, 1947; Serial No; 340,526

This invention relates to a cleaning device,

more: particularly ar fountain-fedrubbing or scrubbing -memberwhich"utilizes 'dry cleaning fluids for removing spots from clothing and the like.

The invention will become more apparent from a. consideration of the accompanying drawing, constituting a part hereof, in which like reference characters designate like parts, and in which Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a fountain-type cleaning device showing a fluid chamber and receptacle housing in vertical section, a cleaning head, and a cap therefore in side elevation;

Fig. 2 a bottom plan view of the face of the cleaning head taken along the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. '3 a vertical cross-sectiona1 view, partially in elevation, of a modified form of such cleaning device; and

Fig. 4 a vertical cross-sectional view, partially broken away, of still another modification of the cleaning device.

With reference to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the numeral I designates a casting having a cylindrical housing 2 formed integrally therewith, the open end of the housing 2 being provided with an end cap 3 and a screw thread stopper 4. A receptacle 5 is integrally formed with the casting l and divided from the cylindrical housing portion 2 b a partition 6 having a fluid flow passage 1 controlled by a valve 8 having screw thread engagement at 9 through the wall of the implement, valve 8 being provided with a knurled head ID for adjusting relative to the flow passage 1 to control the flow of fluid from housing 2 to the receptacle 5. The receptacle is provided with a bead H and an inner thread [2 for receiving a ferrule I3 of a cleaner head, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, the ferrule l3 being provided with a knurled flange I4 for gripping by the hand to screw the head into the receptacle as shown in the assembly of Fig. 3.

Ferrule I3 surrounds a rubber ring l5 having rubber bristles l6 extending thereon and in which is embedded a sponge rubber mass I! cut out at l8 to form a chamber for receiving the liquid from the flow passage I. The sponge rubber mass completely fills the receptacle chamber to seal off the fluid flow which is absorbed by the sponge rubber to moisten the face or surface I9, Fig. 2, which is applied to the soiled spot on the clothing to be cleansed.

In the form of structure shown in Fig. 3, a cleaning head is provided with a threaded portion 2| to receive the threaded end of a fluid container 22 which takes the place of the housing 2-in the structure of "Fig; 1. In this form'ofrfthe *device'thedry'cleaning fluid'may be sold in bottles venient form with a screw thread of a size to fit the threaded portion 2| of the cleaning head, thus avoiding the annoyance of charging the cleaning fluid into the cylindrical housing portion 2 through the opening in the end cap 3 thereof. When not in use, the cleaning head is covered by a cap 23, Fig. 1, which slips over the knurled flange M of the rubber retaining ferrule 13.

In use the device of Fig. '1 is charged with a suitable dry cleaning fluid through the opening in the end cap 3 by removing the knurled screw 4. after which it is sealed by the latter. The clean- 1 ing head has previously been assembled in the receptacle portion 5 by screwing the ferrule [3 in the threaded portion l2, the sponge rubber mass I! being of such length as to contact the face of the partition member 6 and displace the rubber to fill the entire receptacle chamber. In this manner the sponge rubber acts as a seal against the free flow of the cleansing fluid from passage 1 into the receptacle 5. At the same time, the sponge rubber or other compressible absorbing material becomes saturated with the cleansing fluid and the working face [9 is moistened thereby for application of the fluid to the spot to be treated. Valve 8 is adjusted to supply a desired degree of cleansing fluid to the cleaner head face and the user rubs the soiled surface with the cleansing head bringing the rubber bristles IS in contact with the soiled spot to cleanse the same. When not in use the valve 8 is closed and the end cap 23 is placed over the cleaning head so that the device may be safely stored anywhere even though charged with the fluid.

In the form of the device shown in Fig. 3, the dry cleaning fluid may be supplied in special containers or bottles having a threaded end for interacting with the thread of the head 20. In this manner the need for charging the fluid into the fluid chamber is eliminated. Otherwise the construction and operation of the cleaning head and fountain is as described in connection with Fig. 1.

In Fig. 4 the screw threaded opening 25 for valve 26 is isolated from the source of cleaning fluid in chamber 21 so none can leak out through the thread 25 when valve 26 is closed on its seat 28.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been herein illustrated and described, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that ace'mec various modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the priniciples herein set forth.

I claim:

1. In a fountain cleaning device having a threaded receptacle for an applicator head, of a metal ferrule having a threaded body for screwing into the receptacle and a compressible relatively dense rubber annulus disposed within the threads of the ferrule and having rubber bristles extending outwardly therefrom, and a sponge rubber mass contained within said annulus extending outwardly to the end of the bristles and extending inwardly beyond the end of the ferrule into the receptacle chamber to completely fill said receptacle. I

2. An applicator head for fountain cleaning devices having a receptacle with a threaded inner wall which consists of a threaded ferrule for interacting with the threads of the receptacle, an annulus having bristles extending outwardly therefrom and secured in said ferrule, and a sponge rubber mass filling said annulus and ex- 4 tending outwardly to the end of said bristles and inwardly beyond said ferrule to completely fill the receptacle.

ARTHUR B. DAVIES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 90,763 Marshall June 1, 1869 111,955 Marshall Feb. 21, 1871 715,296 Rickey Dec. 9, 1902 1,588,465 Parr June 15, 1928 1,939,516 Olson Dec. 12, 1933 1,939,612 Rose Dec. 12, 1933 2,234,558 Huston Mar. 11, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 452,972 Great Britain Sept. 2, 1936 

